MLIS@Denver offers an optional three-course archiving focus that you can complete as part of your 58-credit degree. This option will prepare you to manage records and archives, oversee digitization projects and keep digital collections—skillsets that are increasingly necessary in a wide variety of organizational settings.
As a student of the Morgridge College of Education, you will also learn to see archiving through a social-justice-focused lens and use your newfound skillset to effect positive change in your community as a steward of its history.
Upon completion of the focus, you will be able to:1
Archivists assess, organize, preserve and provide access to permanently valuable records like letters, manuscripts, reports and photographs. In preserving these items, they help to preserve history. They also protect a wealth of information that can be used to:1
Archivists allow us to remember and reflect on our past—and then improve our future. Learn more about the role of an archivist.
The archivist profession is expected to grow by 9 percent by 2028, which is faster than average.2 A few organizations that might employ an archivist (which can also be called a digitization coordinator or records manager) include:
These specialized courses will help you deepen your understanding of archiving and digitization and develop the skills needed to pursue a wide range of careers. Your learning will be reinforced with hands-on projects, giving you opportunities to apply your skills in real-world settings.
LIS 4800 Introduction to Archives and Records Management: This course provides an introduction to the objectives and methods of the archival and records management professions, including an overview of terminology, issues and common practices. The systematic control of records throughout their life cycle—from creation through processing, distribution, organization, retrieval and archival disposition—will be covered.
LIS 4810 Digital Libraries: This course provides a theoretical foundation for the study of digital libraries and discusses the technological, organizational, social and legal issues associated with the development and use of digital libraries. Through this course, students develop an understanding of digital library components and explore theoretical and practical approaches to constructing, maintaining and evaluating digital libraries. Topics examined include digital library definitions, design and architecture of digital libraries, information access in the digital library environment, digital library users and user services, data repositories, digital curation, digital preservation, digital library evaluation and digital librarianship.
LIS 4820 Digitization: The course offers an introduction to issues and trends in planning, developing and managing digitization projects at libraries, archives and museums. The focus of the course is on the process of converting analog materials into the digital format, online delivery and preservation of master files. The course discusses collection development policy for digital projects; copyright; digital imaging technology; digitization standards and best practices for text, images, audio, and video; metadata for cultural heritage collections; delivery platforms; preservation; project management; sustainability; documentation; promotion; and the evaluation of digital projects.
Find out how you can help preserve your community’s history and move your career forward.
Promote positive change through the power of learning. Take the next step today.
